Table of Contents
ToggleAccording to the Income Tax Act, 1961 paying income tax is compulsory for individuals and companies if the annual earnings exceed a certain specified exempt limit. Taxpayers are given some exemptions and deductions under different sections of the Act.
Individuals across the country earn different incomes and levying taxes at a standard rate would not be a fair policy. Therefore, the Income Tax Act, 1961 segregates income in different ranges, and tax is levied at various rates based on this classification. These rates at which tax is levied are known as tax slabs.
In addition to the annual income, the tax rates vary based on the ages of the taxpayers and the classification of the entities. While determining the Budget every year, the Central Government amends and revises the tax slab rates.
Once these proposed amendments and revisions are approved by the Parliament, the rates become legally applicable.
Income Slab | Old Regime | New Regime |
3 Lakhs per Annum | 0 | 0 |
5 Lakhs per Annum | 0 | 0 |
7 Lakhs per Annum | ₹44,200 | 0 |
9 Lakhs per Annum | ₹85,800 | ₹33,800 |
10 Lakhs per Annum | ₹1,06,600 | ₹44,200 |
11 Lakhs per Annum | ₹1,32,600 | ₹55,900 |
13 Lakhs per Annum | ₹1,95,000 | ₹88400 |
14 Lakhs per Annum | ₹2,26,200 | ₹1,09,200 |
15 Lakhs per Annum | ₹2,57,400 | ₹1,30,000 |
17 Lakhs per Annum | ₹3,19,800 | ₹1,84,600 |
18 Lakhs per Annum | ₹3,51,000 | ₹2,15,800 |
20 Lakhs per Annum | ₹4,13,400 | ₹2,78,200 |
22 Lakhs per Annum | ₹4,75,800 | ₹3,40,600 |
24 Lakhs per Annum | ₹5,38,200 | ₹4,03,000 |
25 Lakhs per Annum | ₹5,69,400 | ₹4,34,200 |
30 Lakhs per Annum | ₹7,25,400 | ₹5,90,200 |
50 Lakhs per Annum | ₹13,49,400 | ₹12,14,200 |
Note: No deductions and exemptions are considered for calculations. Know more below for individual regimes.
As per the new regime, the tax rates are the same for all individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUFs).
Therefore, the same rate is applicable whether you are below 60 years, aged between 60 and 80 years, or are over 80 years old. In this regime, no additional basic income exemption limit is available for senior citizens and super senior citizen taxpayers.
The income tax slabs under the new regime are as follows:
Income Slab (in INR) | Tax Rate |
Up to ₹3,00,000 | 0% |
₹3,00,001 to ₹7,00,000 | 5% |
₹7,00,001 to ₹10,00,000 | 10% |
₹10,00,001 to ₹12,50,000 | 15% |
₹12,50,001 to ₹15,00,000 | 20% |
Over ₹15,00,000 | 30% |
Note:
The option has to be exercised on or before each previous year where you as an individual or an HUF have no income from business operations
Once you choose any tax regime as your option, the decision is irreversible during the same year. Suppose you continue with the old regime and want to withdraw your option and switch to the new regime; you can do so during the next financial year.
The following deductions and exemptions are not available in the new regime:
Income | Tax rate |
Up to INR 3 lakhs | Nil |
INR 3 lakhs – INR 5 lakhs | 5% of income exceeding INR 3 lakhs + 4% cess |
INR 5 lakhs – INR 10 lakhs | 20% of income exceeding INR 5 lakhs + INR 10,500 + 4% cess |
Over INR 10 lakhs | 30% of income exceeding INR 10 lakhs + INR 1,10,000 + 4% cess |
Income | Tax rate |
Up to INR 5 lakhs | Nil |
INR 5 lakhs – INR 10 lakhs | 20% of income exceeding INR 5 lakh + 4% cess |
Over INR 10 lakhs | 20% of income exceeding INR 10 lakh + INR 1 lakh + 4% cess |
Here is an example to help you understand.
Annual income (INR) | 5,00,000 | 10,00,000 | 15,00,000 |
Standard deduction (INR) | 50,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
Section 80C deductions (INR) | 70,000 | 1,50,000 | 1,50,000 |
HRA | 82,000 | 90,000 | 1,40,000 |
Gross income | 2,88,000 | 7,00,000 | 11,50,000 |
Tax calculation | |||
INR 5 lakhs | Nil | Nil | Nil |
INR 5 lakhs – INR 10 lakhs | Nil | 40,000 | 1,00,000 |
Over INR 10 lakhs | Nil | Nil | 45,000 |
Total tax | Nil | 40,000 | 1,45,000 |
Cess | Nil | 1,600 | 5,800 |
Total tax payable | Nil | 41,600 | 1,50,800 |
The new regime is beneficial if your taxable income is up to INR 15 lakhs per year. However, if you are in the high-income category, continuing under the old regime may be more advantageous.
The new regime is beneficial if you are someone who makes lesser investment. Since the new regime provides lower tax rates on income tax slabs, you pay taxes without claiming any deductions, thus, the lower rate can be beneficial.
For example, if your income before deductions is up to INR 12 lakhs, the tax liability under the old regime will be higher if your investments are less than INR 1.50 lakhs. Therefore, if you do not invest much in tax-saving instruments, opting for the new regime can reduce your tax liability.
However, if you are already investing in different tax-saving products, have life and health insurance policies, pay children’s tuition fees, have education and home loans to pay off, and so on, continuing under the old tax regime provides higher deductions, thus reducing your tax liability.
Here is an example to help you compare the tax liability under both regimes and make an informed decision.
Assume your income is INR 12 lakhs per annum and you have investments and loan up to Rs. 2 lakhs in different tax-saving instruments and life insurance premiums and including a home loan. Also, you have a life insurance premium. Under the old regime, all these expenses are tax-deductible.
The tax liability under the two regimes is as below:
Old regime (INR) | New regime (INR) | |
Gross income | 12,00,000 | 12,00,000 |
Standard Deductions: | 50,000 | 75,000 |
HRA | 2,00,000 | – |
Other Deductions | 2,00,000 | – |
Total Deduction | 4,50,000 | 75,000 |
Taxable income | 7,50,000 | 11,25,000 |
Total Tax | 42,930 | 89,087 |
For income earned in the financial year (FY) 2020-21, the taxpayers had the option to choose one of the following.
No, it is an optional scheme to simplify the tax-filing procedure. Remember that New Tax Regime is the default selection. You may choose the new or the old regime at the start of the financial year, which can be changed in the next year if required.
No, the new regime does not allow section 80C and several other deductions under the Income Tax Act, 1961 due to the lower tax rates.
The tax rates are proposed in the annual Union Budget and approved by the Parliament before being applicable. The government may change the rates from one year to another.
New tax regime will benefit you if your income is ₹25 lakh and your tax deductions are less than ₹3,75,000.
New tax regime will benefit you if your income is ₹30 lakh and your tax deductions are less than ₹3,75,000.